McDonald County, Missouri
Among the top 23% of US counties for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B+, better than 77% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 34% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 18% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade D, better than 24% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 33% of US counties
- top 9% for monthly owner costs
- bottom 6% for school quality
McDonald County is a county in Missouri with about 23,000 residents. It grades B+ for affordability and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include monthly owner costs, property tax rate, and park & nature access. It rates lower on broadband access and school quality.
Official websitemcdonaldcountygov.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Light snow
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warm
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85%59%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.0 in2.6 in
muggy 98%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$46k14th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 74% of US counties
Home Value$117k24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$737better than 70% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 91% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.58%better than 78% of US counties
Income Tax4.67%better than 58% of US counties
Sales Tax8.39%better than 25% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden8.90%better than 63% of US counties
Unemployment5.9%better than 29% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)36°F57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)79°F62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation47.7 in64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall11.0 inbetter than 53% of US counties
Sunny Days257 daysbetter than 74% of US counties
Summer Humidity68°Fbetter than 30% of US counties
Comfortable Days69 daysbetter than 25% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk64.0better than 35% of US counties
School Quality33.4better than 6% of US counties
Violent Crime993/100kbetter than 36% of US counties
Property Crime1044/100kbetter than 43% of US counties
Community
Population23,38147th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.222nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4067th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0368th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+6889th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)69.7%35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)2.0%50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)11.6%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.0%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)15.7%96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time26 minbetter than 40% of US counties
Walkability4.8/20better than 14% of US counties
Airport Distance91 mibetter than 54% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access71.6%better than 8% of US counties
Amenities Nearby1.28better than 40% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 77% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is McDonald County an affordable place to live?
- McDonald County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 74% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in McDonald County?
- The median home value in McDonald County is $117k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in McDonald County?
- Median household income in McDonald County is $46k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in McDonald County?
- Median gross rent in McDonald County is $737 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is McDonald County safe?
- McDonald County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 993/100k (better than 36%). Property crime is 1044/100k.
- What is the weather like in McDonald County?
- McDonald County averages 79°F in July and 36°F in January, with 47.7 in of annual precipitation and about 257 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in McDonald County?
- Public-school quality in McDonald County is below average, scoring better than 6% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in McDonald County?
- The average one-way commute in McDonald County is 26 min.
Other counties in Missouri
Explore Missouri
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)